Picked up my farmer’s market box today. You can’t pick what’s in it just if you want box 1, box 2 or box 3 with what is listed. Mine came with kalettes. I have never cooked with them before. Anyone have a favorite? I read I could treat the like Brussels sprouts.
Yes, if there’s a weak link anywhere in the system, they’ll exploit it.
My kids were allowed to snack whenever they were hungry. But all we had were “healthy” snacks - fruits, veggies, nuts, that sort of thing. So if they choose to eat that instead of dinner, no biggie.
When they were younger and complained, I’d assign them to making dinner since they apparently had expertise and ideas. (They’re smart enough not to complain now that they’re older because they’re lazy like me and would prefer to eat something not of their choosing if that means they’re not the one that has to make dinner.)
And I agree it’s not helpful to force them to eat anything they don’t like, no use ever doing that. But hungry people are more willing to try new things.
As I type this, I realize our system works, but it’s a little like a chess game or training wild animals. Many small moves. Nothing big and nothing that is an instant fix. No arguing but subtle pressure to encourage certain behavior.
And the underlying message is: eat your dinner even if it’s not your favorite. Don’t complain. If you absolutely can’t eat this dinner, eat some veggies and keep your mouth shut.
I googled exactly that about an hour ago. Was wanting to make a lentil salad (had plenty on hand). The answer is “oregano”.
It’s 50 degrees out, and the snow has melted off the deck. I think I’m going to grill my chicken tonight!
Yes, it’s nice here today-warm and sunny. H likes to grill out on the weekends so will grill a nice ribeye tonight. Some sense of routine and normalcy in these crazy times!
Are people having a shortage of eggs? In my area (and we had already hunkered down by then) about 3 weeks back when everyone loaded up, there was a brief shortage but not any longer. Good thing about eggs is they are a very cheap source of protein, they are healthy, and they keep fine for many weeks. We get at least 2 dozen each time we get groceries and it’s just the two of us.
Consistently in the 70s here, with a few 80s. My deck looks like a green/yellow chalk factory exploded. Still, the salmon should be great tonight. Dh also grills a mean asparagus. I’ll make a roasted tenderloin for the kids, since they don’t eat anything that swims.
The egg situation is fluid here. If I am in a big box store I have been able to find them - and I won’t be picky about size. In our smaller but wonderful produce/meat/dairy market they have had them - but you never know what you will get. Last week I had to get this rough looking egg package - it was 2 dozen - it was like an open cardboard egg container that had a strong saran type wrap on top . The next time they had plastic cartons - but only jumbo. We go through A LOT of eggs even with 2 or 3 of us.
I’ll throw an egg on top of so many things. On ramen. On a chickpea dish. As an extra topping on a rice/quinoa bowl. On avocado toast.
Asparagus is SO cheap at our produce market this weekend - 3 normal sizes bunches for .99 cents! That’s .33/bunch! I bought a lot as it’s one vegetable H will eat. It’s fully fresh - I don’t know why so cheap! I wonder if it’s cheap because while it’s a typical Easter dinner dish, many won’t be having a typical Easter dinner - I know we won’t. 
@doschicos, we use a lot of eggs. I usually get a double 18-pack at Sam’s. We were down to about a dozen when my son came home and was eating 2-3/day when I started hearing about egg shortages and made him cut back. I was at Sam’s Club about a week later and about to grab normal 18-pack (limit one) when I noticed they also had boxes with 7 dozen. I got that instead. It has been a little easier to find eggs in the last few days from what I hear, but for at least two weeks, people were finding it near impossible to be at the store at just the right time when eggs were available. People are apparently doing a ton of baking b/c flour is another thing near impossible to find. Restaurants that have curbside carry out are turning into small markets now and also selling eggs, milk and produce which helps. Part of the problem is that like me, people don’t want to go to the store often so they stock up. I bought those 7 dozen eggs just over two weeks ago and we have 2 dozen left (plus about 6 hard boiled). We never use that many eggs, but with my 19 y/o eating breakfast almost every day, my daughter baking more than usual, and we are making things like fresh pasta which we rarely do, it’s crazy how many eggs we are using!
I made a coffee cake this morning that my H loves so he has a treat for the next week. I didn’t think I would be able to use my regular recipe since it uses sour cream, but then I found a small container of sour cream in the small extra refrigerator we have been using. H was very happy!
It’s in season and there is no longer much demand from restaurants. Many, many Americans don’t cook, hence the run on processed food - canned, pasta and frozen foods. Surely some of that is due to people wanting to stockpile food that will keep - and some of that is surely warranted - but I think some of it is because people want to eat food with minimal prep needed. Veggies really don’t require much prep but most people don’t know how to cook, sadly. In our area, fresh produce has been plentiful all month. That makes me happy because that is how we eat and how I need to eat for health reasons. I’ll start getting anxious when I no longer have access to healthy food.
In my area, yes to eggs and fresh produce. Flour is scarce and yeast is impossible to find.
Have a gnocchi making party one day if you’re looking for something to do as a family. Definitely works best with multiple hands helping out. Bake the potatoes instead of boiling for a lighter texture.
Eggs are hit or miss in most typical stores here. Costco seems to have a reasonable supply but only one type at a time (could be the multidozen box or could be the smaller 2 dozen brown eggs) and limits one per customer. Publix and Trader Joes get totally sold out at various times. The local Amish/Mennonite place I buy most of our produce and meat from, though, has not had any issue stocking eggs since they buy from one of our local farms and since it’s so warm the chickens here are laying well.
I wonder if the Honey Baked Ham marketers are also worried people aren’t going to have traditional Easter dinner gatherings so won’t be buying Honey Baked Ham. Normally around here they don’t do much promotion or offer sales because it’s their peak holiday anyway. But this year it seems like they’re doing more promo and offering discounts.
Our local seasonal produce market hasn’t opened yet. Looking forward to that fresh asparagus!
Nothing fancy for dinner tonight.
Barbecue chicken on the grill
Boxed rice and beans
Green salad
It was quick and easy
Since the social distancing, I’ve been ordering crusty sourdough bread from a local bakery. I usually am lazy and don’t go there. Ok I also am way too tempted by the doughnuts! But making a choice to support them. I’m hoping this is a habit I’ll keep up
I had eggs already and when I did my first big marketing a few weeks back I bought another carton. I still have that carton untouched. We aren’t big egg eaters. And when we do eat them it’s for breakfast for dinner.
Tonight was a treat from the farmers market box. Roast chicken and roast kalettes, potatoes, and onions. With a fresh salad of their lettuces, cucumbers and tomatoes. Back to other pantry items tomorrow.
It was a leftovers kind of night. 
I had some stuff from my Farmers-2-Neighbors box that I needed to use up so, I sauteed zucchini , red onion and potatoes with some garlic, oregano, and paprika. I added kidney beans, a jar of salsa and some shredded cheddar. Put the mixture in a baking dish and popped it in the oven. This was inspired by a Mexican zucchini casserole dish I make, with a few substitutions. Served it with a salad and it was delicious. There are enough leftovers for tomorrow night. 
Well, our Kroger pick-up order only had 1/2 of what I ordered. So disappointed. I can’t believe some of the things they said they didn’t have in stock. Bibigo GoChuJang? Seriously? Guess we aren’t the only ones who think everything with rice tastes better with it!
Ds has tomorrow off work. He works at Lowes and has been working close to 60 hrs a week. We are going to meet him at the Publix beside his apt and he is going to go in and see if he can find a few things for us in there. (That is irony for you. He is our Aspie who doesn’t do anything on his own other than walk to work and do his job there. For him to buy me some groceries is definitely the world flipped on its head!)
Today I am in the process of making bread and making stock from a ham bone. Still haven’t decided what on earth I am making for dinner. At least on my way home from Kroger I drove by a local farmer’s stand and was able to pick up some potatoes, zucchini, and tomatoes.
Eggs are hard to find here. Last time, I was able to get brown ones, Walmart was out of all varieties yesterday. I’ve been holding off on our breakfast burritos because we use 10 at a time for that, and I don’t want to be without for something else. But I miss my burritos. We eat them most weeks.
I went to the store one last time, only because there was only one car in the parking lot. Bought a rotisserie chicken, homemade pea soup, chicken salad and cold cuts. Avoiding cooking as much as I can folks!